Dump trailer



March '25, 1930. P N TON ET AL 1,752,056

DUMP 'IRA ILER Original Filed Sept. '7, 1928 INVENTOR J/Pr/a/R P AIPM/Ndrow ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 25, 1930 umraosrAras PATENT, OFFICE ARTHUR P.ABHINGTON AND STEWART I. ARMINGTON, OF WILLOUGHBY, OHIO, AB-

SIGNORSTO THE EUCLID CRANE Q. EOIST COMPANY, OF EUCLID, OHIO, A OORPORL-TION 01" OHIO DUMP TRAILER continuation of application Serial No.804,462, filed September 7, 1858. Thin application and Kay 1, 1989.

. Serial No. 359,800.

This invention relates to earth moving aparatus of the dump trailer typeand adapted or use in a train with other similar trailers,

as drawn by a heavy-duty tractor between loading and dumping positions;and the invention articularly relates to trailers of the so-oalled carttype, that is, equipped with running gear such as a'single pair ofwheels or wheel substitutes b which substantiall all of the load iscarrie ,in substantially ba anced relation thereon. v

A typical dump trailer of the class to which reference is had, comprisesas its principal parts a load container-body, mobile supportmg meanstherefor, and draft hitch means secured with the body.

The bod may comprise an open-bottom hopper with a frame at its base anddumping doors associated with the frame to control dumping of the loadfrom the hopper.

As to the mobile supporting means for the container-body, this inventionparticularly contemplates a location thereof substantially medial ormidway of the ends of the vehicle,

and a relationship between the supporting means and the described bodysuch that the body may tilt as a unit upon the supporting means in alongitudinal plane, whereby the distribution of load, both live anddead, will so be substantially equal and uniform fore-andaft of the axisof tilt.

Such supporting means comprise general- 1y, therefore medially locatedaxle means secured with the body, and running gear associated with theaxle means.

Where the dump trailer is of large capacity such as is contemplated inthis invention it becomes necessary to employ running gear of endlesstread type, that suflicient bearing upon the ground be obtained tosupport the enormous weight of the loaded container. A unit of suchendless tread includes at least a pair of spaced wheels about which isarranged an endless tread linkage. Thus the wheels may be and usuallyare of relatively small diameter yet large bearing is provided by thelower stretch of tread linkage.

The axle means, by which term is included an axle or something whichtakes the place thereof, serves to support the body upon the runninggear, tion thereabove and freely tiltable fore-and-' aft thereon.

The mobile supporting means are centrally located relative to the endsof the body so that the body is substantially balanced upon the runninggear when in horizontal or operative load-carrying position, but inunstable equilibrium.

The draft hitch means are secured with the body as at either endthereof, whereby if the hitch means at either end of the body is securedwith drift means of a leading or following vehicle, the bod ismaintained thereby a ainst fore-and-a t tilting and in substantiallybalanced position.

, The subject matter of the present case pertains to means formaintaining stability of the parts, and this case is a continuation ofour copending a plication, Serial No. 304,462, filed September%,1928.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dump doorarrangement for the body which shall insure uniform dumping of the loadfore-and-aft of the axis of tilt of the body whereby the center ofgravity of the body, Whether loaded or unloaded, is not moved relativeto the axis of tilt, so that the balance of the body on this axis willbe maintained independent of whether. the load is carried or dumped. Tothis end we provide dumping doors each extending the full length of thecontainer opening, through the zone of the axis of tilt and e uallytherebeyond,

and arranged to swing a out a longitudinal axis downwardly and laterallyto depending dumping position.

That the body may be maintained in elevated position to clear the dumpedload and particularly where the running gear is of endless tread typeand thus relatively slight vertical dimension, it becomes necessary thatthe center of gravity of the body be well above the axis of tilt, theelevation of which is defined by the running gear. Obviously the higherthe center of gravity of the body above the axis of tilt. the moreunstable is the equilibrium of the body.

A further object of our invention is to so elevate the body and toprovide the body with with the body in elevated posia a sin le air ofdumping doors each extending t e fiill length of the container openingand arranged to swing about a side edge thereof downwardly and outwardlyto depending dumping position.

It is generally desirable that the axle means include a member extendingacrossthe body, and a further object of our invention is to arrange thistransverse member above the doors that the latter may extend through thezone of the transverse member as described.

The exact nature of our invention together with further objects andadvantages thereof will be apparent from the following description takenin connection with the accompany-- ing drawings in which Fig. 1 is aperspective View of an embodiment of our invention taken from theforward left quarter and showing the vehicle body in normal horizontalor run ning position, and the dumping doors thereof open; Fig. 2 is aplan view of the same showing the doors in closed or load-carryingposition; and Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation of the parts as they appearin Fig. I.

With reference now to the drawings, the vehicle has a frame of generallyrectangular form, built of structural steel sections with front and rearend members 1, 2 and side members 3. A hopper 4 is mounted on the frame,the base of the hopper being shorter than the frame, which latter,therefore, extends longitudinally therebeyond. Preferably the frameincludes transverse members located between the frame side members 3 andalong the hopper end walls at their bases.

Hinged to the side members of the frame for swinging movement betweenhorizontal closed position as indicated in Fig. 2, and downwardly andoutwardly therefrom to depending open or dumping position as indicatedFi 1, are av pair of doors 7. A drum 8 control ed by levers 9 isarranged as on the rear wall of the hopper 4, and a line 10 leadingtherefrom over suitable sheaves on doors and frame for the purpose ofcontrolling the doors. A step platform 22 is provided to support anoperator in position to manipulate the levers 9.

Thus, the parts described constitute generall a load-containing bodyhaving a dumping ottom. Mobile supporting means for this body areprovided and in the embodiment shown comprise axle means of generallyinverted-U form' having a transverse member 11 arranged midway betweenthe hopper ends, above the doors, and passing through the side framemembers, with its projecting ends fixed in brackets 12. The brackets inturn are secured with the side frame members and extenddownwardlytherefrom and carry at their ends outwardly turned stub axles 13.

' Running gear located on either side of the frame is associated withthe stub axles. and as Illustrated, the running gear is of the wellnowncreeper type comprising paired wheels 14 mounted on rocker beam 15 andhaving trained thereabout an endless tread linkage 16. Thus the axlemeans by its arched form has an immediate connection with the framesupporting the same and therefore the body as a unit, well above theground that the doors may clear the ground in open position, and wherebybot-l1 axle means and frame will clear the dumped load.

It will be noted that the body is free to tilt fore-and-aft about therunning gear and in the embodiment shown, upon an axis common with thestub shafts 13. The axle means is substantially medial of the body sothat the body is substantially balanced upon the: running gear whetheror not a load is being carrie Thus the trailer is generally of cart ortwo-wheeled type as distinguished from wagon or four-wheeled type.

At the rear of the frame and centrall thereof as secured with the rearmember2 1S a hitch means 17 of any suitable form.

At the front of the trailer we provide draft hitch means of arched formand having as its principal members a forwardly extending tongue member18 and a hitch member 19 secured at the forward end thereof anddownwardly extending therefrom, the tongue member having openings 24, 25adapted to optionally receive a draft bolt 27, shown in Fig. 2, forhitch connection with draft means such as a tractor or preceding similardump trailer. The drawbar parts are so proportioned and arranged thatwhen the proper hitch is made the containerbody of the trailer will bein horizontal position as in Fig. 1.

As already described, in this position the container-body whether loadedor empty, is substantially balanced upon the running gear, but becauseof the pivotal connection on the axis of the stub shafts 13, the body isin unstable equilibrium and free to tilt foreand-aft but for itsconnection by its hitch means.

It will be noted that each door 7 extends the full length of thecontainer opening, uninterrupted through the central transverse verticalplane of zone of the body in which zone lies the transverse axle member11, the stub shafts 13 and the center of gravity of .thebodyi The resultis that since the doors move on longitudinal axes and extend equallyfore-and-aft of this zone, equal and uniform dumping of the loadfore-and-aft of the 7 worst possible condition of unbalance of the "bodyand great danger to the operator who would be mounted on the vehicle atthe time for the purpose of tripping and reclosing the dump doors.

And where a single pair of doors are employed as shown, equal dumping ofthe load is more positively insured, since when the doors are dropped todumping position the hopper bottom is entirely open and clear for theload except for the centrally located axle member 11.

Further resulting advanta es of the employment of the single pair 0doors are that the lower exposed stretches of the running gear areprotected by the doors in a measure impossible were separate doors,arranged fore-and-aft of the axle means, employed.

Likewise, when the load is dumped and the vehicle moved off the dumpedload the single pair of doors with their uninterrupted sur aces bearingupon the load slide easily therefrom.

It will be noted that in the trailer shown the center of gravity of theload is well above the axis of tilt. Here it becomes particularlyimportant that the balance of the load on this axis be maintained sinceangular displacement of the body on the running gear produces anexaggerated linear displacement of the load from its balancing position.

What we claim is:

1. A heavy-duty dump trailer of cart class, comprising an open-bottomcontainer-body, mobile supporting means for said body, including runninggear characterized by rolling elements of diameter less than the widthof the body opening and medially located axle means associating the bodywith the running gear, said axle means bein arched over the bottomopening and including arms dependin from the body and having at theirlower an s tilting bearing connection with said gear, whereby the bodyis supported in elevated position to tilt foreand-aft about the bearingaxis and is substantially balanced but in unstable equilibrium oversaidaxis, and a single pair of dumping doors for said opening eachextending the full length thereof and mounted to swing downwardly andlaterally to dumping position, whereby dumping of the load will beuniform foreand-aft of said axis of balance, and said balancewill thusbe maintained independent of whether the load is carried or dumped.

2. In a vehicle of the class described, a

rigid open frame, an open-bottom container carried by said frame to dumptherethrough, doors for the dumping opening extending the full lengththereof and mounted to swing downwardly and laterally to dumpingposition, arched axle means intermediate the ends of the frame andcomprising a member locatedabove the doors and extending across theframe through the sides thereof with ends proJecting therebeyond,brackets sleeved on the ends of said member and secured to the frame andextending downwardly below the elevation of the container, and stubshafts extending outwardly from the lower extremi-' ties of saidbrackets and carried by endlesstread running gear.

In testimony whereof we hereby afiix our signatures.

ARTHUR P. ARMINGTON. STEWART F. ARMINGTON.

